DL possible for Bannister  —  ATLANTA - The Mets have their rotation set for this weekend's series against the Braves at Turner Field, but because Brian Bannister pulled up lame Wednesday in San Francisco, the pitching situation appears cloudy beyond then.  —  Bannister was diagnosed …

Hanged By His Own Testimony  —  This blurb from Ladson needs very little commentary.  It pretty much stands on its own.  After the lessons of last season, and Bowden's constant preaching about the need for "Pitching, pitching, pitching," the son of a bitch has run out of pitchers already.

Coco given a setup role  —  CLEVELAND — If there is any consolation for Francisco Cordero, it is in the record that he did not break.  —  When Cordero blew his fifth save of the month Wednesday, he established a major league record for April.  But he did not break the one-month record of seven …

City to Break Ground With Owner  —  District officials said yesterday they expect Major League Baseball to name a new owner of the Washington Nationals in time for Thursday's groundbreaking for a $611 million stadium project that the city is building for the team.

Single step for Matsui  —  Key hit helps lift doldrums, Yanks  —  Within an inning, Hideki Matsui's season seemed to pick up some momentum last night at the plate and in the field.  The Yankees' left fielder did not smash out of his hitting slump, but he got a break.

Moving Willis by deadline makes sense  —  Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria keeps denying that the team might trade left-hander Dontrelle Willis, growing increasingly outraged by each new round of speculation.  —  What Loria can't deny is the sheer logic of moving Willis at the July 31 non-waiver deadline …

They need to clear their heads after this beating  —  CLEVELAND — Now that we have incontrovertible proof Josh Beckett will not go undefeated in his first season with the Red Sox — the next thing you know, Jonathan Papelbon is going to blow a save in 2006 — we interrupt the requisite gnashing …

Same old, same old  —  Consistency.  It's an important word for people when it comes to baseball.  Google "consistency + baseball" and you get 2,830,000 results.  It's also a loaded word.  Years ago, for example, Red Sox fans were arguing that the Sox should sign Chan Ho Park because he was a consistent pitcher.

Nady has become popular choice  —  Everybody loves Xavier.  That's hard to believe for someone who was traded for Mike Cameron, the most popular player in the Mets' clubhouse during his two-year stay.  But Xavier Nady has made an immediate impact since coming from the Padres in that early November swap …

Big injury, even bigger fallout  —  Derrek Lee's broken wrist could affect far more than who plays 1st base  —  The Cubs probably will feel residual effects of Derrek Lee's broken wrist all season, even if he returns by the All-Star break.  The injury could have a major impact …

Baseball Jersey Wearing 101  —  I'm about 95% sure that someone's already written something on this topic, but it doesn't change the fact that it needs to be done.  —  Normally, if I have any fear that someone has already beaten a subject to death, I'd look to avoid it and fill the space …

Losing seasons, empty seats … The day dawned clear and temperate.  The home team entered with a winning record.  The opponent was a 2005 division winner led by one of the game's best players.  —  It seemed a perfect occasion to see a ballgame.  And yet, as Orioles starter Kris Benson threw …